Detachable weight for baseball bats



April 28, 1970 R. s. sTRlMEL 3,508,748

DETACHABLE WEIGHT FOR BASEBALL BATS Filed Jan. 18, 1968 20 INVENTUM j??y Haff 5. 7W/Ma www ATTORNEY United States Patent O M 3,508,748DETACHABLE WEIGHT FOR BASEBALL BATS Robert S. Strimel, Buckley Road,Penllyu, Pa. 19458 Filed Jan. 18, 1968, Ser. No. 698,923 lint. Cl. A631)69/00 U.S. Cl. 273-26 2 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A weight meansreadily mountable on (and removeable from) a baseball bat to increasethe effective weight thereof, the weight being held on the bat byclamping structure wherein the head of a bolt engages the taperedsection of the bat. The clamping structure may be in the form of aC-shaped clamp pivotally connected to the weight means and the bolt maybe positioned either in the weight means or the clamp.

This invention relates to baseball equipment and in particular relatesto a device for use with a bat which conditions the bat alternativelyfor use in regular hitting and for use in exercising and practiceswinging.

More specifically, the invention contemplates means which can betemporarily affixed to a bat normally used for hitting purposes tothereby increase the effective weight of the bat and adapt the same forexercising and practice swinging.

From the beginning of baseball, it has been customary for the players totry to improve batting ability through exercise and practice swings withheavier-than-normal bats. Ordinarily, this is done by means oflead-weighted bats, or by swinging groups of 2 or 3 hitting bats. Thiscustom developed in order to help strengthen the muscles of the playerused in batting and enable the normal hitting bat to be swung faster,harder and with more wrist snap, and to enhance accuracy and controlover the lighter hitting bat.

Among the disadvantages of the conventional way of exercising andpractice swinging is that the gripping of the lead-weighted bat and/ orthe group of bats, does not have the same feel as the bat which theplayer normally uses for hitting purposes Correct feel enhancescompatibility between player and bat and is essential to good battingability.

The present invention overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantage byproviding a weight means which can be quickly attached to the batnormally used for hitting and thereby immediately convert the same forpractice use. In this way, the feel or affinity of the player for aparticular bat is retained both in practice and in hitting. Theinvention is constructed so that the increase in effective weight can bematched to the needs of the player and to the size, shape and weight ofthe bat.

Preferred constructions of the invention will be described below inconnection with the following drawings, wherein:

FIGURE l is a side elevation of one embodiment of the invention as shownmounted on a bat;

FIGURE 2 is a view taken along the lines 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view taken along FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view partially in section showing anotherembodiment of the invention.

In FIGURE l, the bat B has a conventional head section 1 and the section2, which tapers down toward the handle (not shown). It will beunderstood that the bat B is exemplary only, there being a wide varietyof bat models which vary in weight, length, handle size, barrel size anddegree of taper. The bat with which the the lines 3-3 of 3,508,748Patented Apr. 28, 1970 ICC device is intended for use is the batnormally used by the player for hitting purposes.

The main body weight 3 is C-shaped, as is shown in FIGURE 2. The openingO between the edges 4 and 5 is sufficient so that the body can beslipped over the tapered section 2. The inside diameter of the body isdimensioned to make a loose, sliding fit with the barrel section 1.

A retainer 6 comprises a clamp 7, lock bolts 8 and arms 9. The clamp 7is C-shaped and is shown as diS- posed over the tapered section 2. Theopening O is wide enough so that the clamp can be slipped over thetapered section 2. The arms 9 are xed to the clamp 7 and extend axiallyto the body weight 3, where they are pivotally connected as by thepivots 10 and 11. The pivots permit the clamp 7 to tilt with respect tothe body 3.

One of the principal features of the invention is that it enables theeffective weight of the bat to be made compatible with the needs of theplayer and with the size and weight of the particular bat. This isattained by the construction of the retainer `which provides for thedevice to be selectively positionable along the bat and t0 assume suchposition each time it is attached. By shifting the device along the axisof the bat, the effective weight can be increased or decreased asdesired. The structure and operation of the retainer to achieve theforegoing will be explained below.

The clamp 7 fits around the bat to an extent that the lock bolts 8 canbe located 120 apart as shown in FIG- URE 3. The bolts extend throughappropriately sized apertures in the clamp. The heads 12, 13 and 14 ofthe lock bolts have engagement surfaces contacting the tapered portion2. Each head is preferably semi-spherical in shape and is rubber-coatedso as to prevent marring or denting of the tapered section. Othermaterials, having a modulus lower than that of the bat, may constitutethe engagement surfaces.

The lock bolt heads 12, 13 and 14 are each adjustable radially towardand away from the axis of the bat. When the heads 12, 13 and 14 occupyoutward positions, the device assumes a position close to the tip of thebarrel and when the heads occupy inward positions, the device assumes aninward position down toward the handle.

As shown in FIGURE 3, the heads 12, 13 and 14 occupy the outmost radialposition and the device is located toward the barrel tip at a maximumoutward position on the bat. This represents the maximum amount ofincrease in effective weight.

To decrease the effective weight, the device is made to assume aposition inwardly toward the handle by adjusting the heads of the locknuts inwardly. The heads of the lock nuts can be positioned toward thebat axis simply by removing the nuts 12a, 13a and 14a, and then puttingone or more of the washers 12b, 13b and 14b between the head and theinside of the clamp.

Under normal conditions, it is contemplated that the device be used toincrease the effective weight of the bat one, two or three times theactual weight.

The manner in which the device of FIGURE 1 is secured to the bat isexplained following:

First, the device is held with the opening O facing downwardly and withthe retainer tilted to the position shown by the dot and dash lines. Thebody 3 is then slipped over the tapered section 2 of the bat and theretainer rotated downwardly until the head 12 engaegs the taperedsection. The body and retainer are moved to the left until such time asthe heads 12, 13 and 14 come into firm engagement with the taperedsection 2. The device will then be appropriately located along the axison the bat.

The device is pulled up tight so that the heads are wedged on thetapered section. This prevents the device from slipping off when the batis held in an upright position. As the bat is swung, the centrifugalforce developed by the weight 3 will tend to move the device axially outwardly, but this movement is prevented by the heads 12, 13 and 14engaging or wedging with the tapered section 2.

It will be appreciated that the physical dimensions and material of themain body Weight 3 can be varied to obtain an effective weight suited tothe size, age and strength of the batter group, for example, the LittleLeaguers, the high-schoolers and the professionals. It is preferable toobtain such variance by change in length or thickness or diameter of thebody weight 3.

For removal of the device of FIGURE 1 from the bat, it is preferable toturn the bat so that the opening `O- faces upwardly. The device is thenpushed towards the tapered section 2 and, as the weight and the retainermove down on the tapered section, the gravity causes the retainer tofalll away via the opening O and the main body weight 3 subsequently candrop away via the opening O.

In FIGURE 4, I have shown a simplified version of the invention. Thiscomprises a C-shaped main body weight 15, configured to t over thebarrel end 16 of the bat and to extend axially over the tapered section17. The body has an opening similar to the opening 1O of the weight 3.The right-hand section 18 of the body weight being connected with theportion over the barrel and having lock bolts 19 functions as a retainermeans. The lock bolts 19 are identical in construction and operation asbolts 12, 13 and 14.

For placing the device of FIGURE 4 on the bat, the same is held in thehand over the tapered section 17 and then is placed on the bat by way ofthe opening O, and then moved to the left over the barrel section 16 ofa position determined by the adjusted position of the heads of the lockbolts 18.

It will be appreciated that the devices of FIGURES l and 4 can bequickly mounted and detached, and this is of special advantage where theplayer is making practice swings before going to the plate. The playercan get maximum practice time and without delay for removal of thedevice.

In some instances, particularly where the device is adapted for use withthe Little Leaguers, it is preferable to incorporate a safety means. InFIGURE 4, the safety means is shown in phantom and comprises the cap 20which ts over the barrel end and is secured to the body weight 15 by apair of springs, one of which is indicated at 21.

When the safety device is used with the embodiment of FIGURE 4, the cap19 is positioned at the top of the body Weight at the time the main body15 is slipped over the tapered section. When the handle is moved to theposition shown in FIGURE 4, the cap 21 is pulled against the tension ofthe springs into the position shown.

In the embodiment of the invention of FIGURE l, I have shown the mainbody weight as having an opening which is used for slipping the bodyover the tapered section of the bat. It will be understood that theinvention contemplates the body of FIGURE 1 to be constructed without anopening, i.e., a complete tube. A device as shown in FIGURE 1,constructed with a body without an opening is placed on and removed fromthe bat as follows:

First, the retainer 6 is tilted to the position shown by the dot anddash lines and then the body is moved past the tip of the bat over thebarrel section 1 until the retainer is positioned over the taperedsection 2. The retainer is then swung downwardly until the head 12engages the tapered section. The body and retainer are then moved to theleft until such time as the heads 12, 13 and 14 come into firm wedgingengagement with the tapered section 2` For removal of the device justdescribed, the bat is turned until the opening in the retainer facesupright. The device is then moved to the right until the heads are freefrom the tapered section and gravity causes the retainer to fall away.Then the device is removed by pulling the same back over the barrelsection.

I claim:

1. A device for increasing the effective weight of a baseball bat,comprising:

a main body weight configured to t around a bat; and

retainer means connected to said body weight and adapted, when thedevice is disposed on a bat, to be located adjacent to the taperedsection of the bat, the retainer having mechanism engaging the taperedsection while the bat is being swung and operating to prevent outwardaxial movement of the device over the barrel of the bat due tocentrifugal force developed, the connection of the retainer means withthe body weight rendering the device immovable during a swing, saidmechanism including a plurality of bolts adjustable toward and away fromthe axis of the bat, the head of each bolt being adapted to engage saidtapered section.

2. A device for increasing the effective weight of a baseball batcomprising:

a C-shaped main body weight configured to t over a barrel of a bat; and

retainer means including a C-shaped clamp configured to fit over thetapered section of the bat, a plurality of bolts attached to the clamp,the head of each bolt having a surface adapted to engage the taperedsection of the bat while the bat is being swung, the engagementpreventing outward axial movement of the device over the barrel of thebat due to centrifugal force developed, and arm means pivotallyconnecting the clamp and the main body weight and providing for theclamp to be tilted with respect to the body weight.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,030,982 7/1912. Dinger 273-722,543,722 2/1951 Hetzel 273-194 X 2,608,409 8/1952 Pinkerton 273-1942,950,1l5 8/1960 Hurdzan 273-194 X 3,351,346 ll/l967 Strahan 273-193GEORGE I. MARLO, Primary Examiner R. I. APLEY, Assistant Examiner U.S.Cl. X.R. 272-84; 273-194

